Illawong Nature Reserve

by Mark
(The Bower)

Bushwalking through the Reserve

Illawong Wetlands

Illawong Sea Eagles Nest

Illawong Nature Reserve is located on the South Coast of NSW immediately inland from the seaside village of Broulee, 23 kilometres south of Batemans Bay (by road). The reserve, which is roughly rectangular in shape, encompasses 51 hectares.

Habitat Protection
The Reserve protects a section of Illawong Swamp and a small part of neighbouring Longvale Swamp which drains into Lynchs Creek, a tributary of Candlagan Creek. Although significant parts of the catchments of both of these wetlands have previously been cleared, the swamps themselves remain largely in a natural or near-natural state and provide important habitat for waterfowl.

The reserve provides habitat for a variety of other wildlife. The threatened yellowbellied glider and long-nosed potoroo have been observed near the reserve and the threatened
hooded robin has been recorded on the reserve. A pair of white-bellied sea eagles maintains a nest in a large spotted gum in the reserve.

Background
The land that now constitutes the reserve was formerly private land in the Parish of Tomaga, County of St Vincent. Following an inspection by an officer of the Fauna Protection Panel in 1961, the area was recommended for reservation to protect waterfowl. In response, in 1964 the area was reserved under section 197 of the Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913 for “the purpose of preservation of fauna”. Later that

year this gazettal was revoked and the area was proclaimed Illawong Faunal Reserve, No. 34, under section 9(1) of the Fauna Protection Act 1948 “for the purpose of the protection and care of fauna, the propagation of fauna and the promotion of the study of fauna”. With the consolidation and amendment of the National Parks and Wildlife Act (NPW Act) in 1974 the faunal reserve was subsequently deemed to be dedicated as a nature reserve by virtue of clause 7(3) of the provisions of schedule 3 of the Act.

Illawong Nature Reserve protects a part of a larger series of wetlands in the locality. The significance of this greater wetlands complex is recognised at a statewide level through listing as a State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) 14 coastal wetland (No. 186). This designation requires management to be in accordance with state environmental planning policies designed to preserve and protect wetlands.
Although significant parts of the catchments of both of these wetlands have previously been cleared, the swamps themselves remain largely in a natural or near-natural state.